He walked to The Boardwalk. It was only two football fields away. Cars whizzed by. He kept his hat on his head with one hand. He could use a damn smoke.

At The Boardwalk he bought a bag of salt and vinegar chips and a seltzer water in glass bottle. He pushed himself to buy a pack of cigarettes. Was waiting for the cashier to ask "anything else". With that question he would say, "now that you say it. Get me a pack of those." But the cashier kept his eyes down. Never said amything other than the price he owed.

Outside he opened the bottle and took a swig. He walked over to the actual boardwalk and sat on the bench. Seagulls squaked in the distance. The waves crashed against the rocks. Damn he could use a smoke. But what the hell was he doing out here. It had only been a day. He could show up at the office and say 'surprise!' and act like it was a joke. His phone had been blowing up. Carl had been texting and calling him non-stop.

Work was the last thing he wanted to think of. In fact he didn't want to think at all. He wanted to feel. The gulls and the waves calmed him. His hand reached for the bottle. Took another swig.

After a few minutes he noticed a man sitting on a bench down the way. He was an older man. Sat there staring out into the ocean. Dave got up and started walking towards him.